Cash-strapped force’s plea for volunteer officers

Michael Broomhead

Cash-strapped Derbyshire Constabulary has launched a campaign to recruit more volunteer officers.

The force – which faces a 20 per cent cut in its budget – will take on members of the public to help police in a number of roles such as organising warrants and heading out on the beat with officers.

The aim is to give residents the chance to get involved with policing and to help cut the amount of time officers spend in the police station.

It comes after a year-long trial in the High Peak and Derbyshire Dales.

Assistant chief constable Gary Knighton, of Derbyshire police, said: “Volunteers already play an important role in supporting the force through the Special Constabulary.

“Our Police Support Volunteers scheme will offer a wider variety of volunteering activities to members of the public which will assist us to maintain a high quality of service to the public of Derbyshire.

“The pilot scheme has demonstrated the value that volunteering brings, both in terms of freeing up officers’ and staff time and in giving members of the public the opportunity to support local policing by bringing new skills into the organisation.

“We are seeking to recruit volunteers across the county and I would encourage people to have a look at the volunteering activities on offer and register their interest.”

Derbyshire’s police and crime commissioner Alan Charles added: “I’m keen to see more members of the public involved in policing as not only do they make a valuable contribution to community safety but they help us build new links with communities.

“However, there is a clear principle that none of these volunteer activities will replace employees and all of the volunteering opportunities have been agreed by the various staff representation groups.”

Anyone interested in becoming a Police Support Volunteer is invited to take part in a virtual surgery, which will be hosted at www.derbyshire.police.uk from 4pm to 6pm on Friday.